I have more than I need, so much so that I can barely manage all that I own.
A series of four drawings made for me with privilege and mould on A3 acid free Canson paper, 2009.

An excess of expensive quality drawing paper sits waiting to be used, stored for months in the shed in the humidity of Bunjalung country (Northern Rivers), Australia.
The paper is forgotten, It gets wet and as it slowly dries mould forms. In my first world life, I am distracted and I busy with other things, while I have forgotten about this material that I purchased with the intent to create, it is creating something on its own, it is changing, it is working hard to grow, to live, it is mould, alive and marking the paper.

As a university student, studying Visual Art my the problem I faced this morning was that I had an outstanding task I had not attended to for my drawing class. I am expected to present something this morning, and I have not prepared anything. I go downstairs and discover the pad of drawing paper with its damp scented mouldy pages. I have a moment of disappointment but it is short lived as I turn the pages and they reveal a series of pink and grey drawings, exquisite in their soft life beginnings, their organic patterns are just what I need, they’re perfect!

I remove four the pages and take them to my government supported University program, to present to my drawing class. I pin them on the wall and speak to them of privilege. I explain to my contemporary drawing class that this work is possibly collaborative, a found object installation and that these drawings were made as they were found by nature.

I offer the questions- How does the fact that they are on quality drawing paper change how they are received? And how does taking them out of my home and pinning them to a wall make them more or less received as an artwork?

Now here it is today with its line, form and colours being recognised, appreciated and discussed. That I can pin mouldy paper to the wall of a educational institution and speak of privilege, is my privilege. The recognition of these mould stains will contribute toward a bachelor’s degree in the appreciation of art, yet these marks were not made by my hand, nor my body, they were made by a chemical reaction that I have recognised. This is considered an academic achievement in this society. This is privilege.